Blasphemy Cases
Two Christian men charged with blasphemy in Punjab
Blasphemy charges have been filed against two Christian men in Mulakay village, in the district of Kasur in Punjab.
Walayat Masih and Mushtaq organised a celebration in honour of a local popular figure, Muharri Shah who followed the Christian faith but who also dabbled in magic to help locals with their personal problems. He acquired a cult-like status among some of the more illiterate and uneducated locals, who hailed him a saint.
More than 300 Christians and Muslims took part in the celebration at the grave of Muharri Shah, during which slips of paper printed with the Islamic Kalma were offered over his grave. The Kalma is Islam’s core statement of faith, which proclaims, “There is no God except Allah and Mohammed is his prophet.”
Some Muslim youths hanging around in the graveyard became aggressive when they saw the slips of paper with the Kalma being offered over the grave of a Christian man and rallied other local Muslims to join in an attack on the gathering.
The Muslim people taking part in the ceremony fled, while Walayat and Mushtaq were cornered by the attackers and severely beaten. Police arrived at the scene and took the two men to the police station at Sheikhum, where they were charged with blasphemy.
CLAAS national director, Joseph Francis, and the chief coordinator of Sharing Life Ministry Pakistan, Sohail Johnson, went to the area to investigate and were able to speak with officers involved in the case as well as the detained men. Police assured the CLAAS team that they would handle the matter.
When CLAAS spoke to villagers, they were told that a call had gone out to all Muslims in the surrounding villages to gather at the site of the festival to protest against the Christians because they had disgraced the Kalma. The Muslims, some of whom allegedly have links to fanatical Islamic organisations, threatened to kill Christians living in the area and torch their homes and churches.
Many fled out of fear for their lives, including Walayat’s wife, Sakina, who sought safety elsewhere along with their two sons, Mungta, 16, and Shakeel, 13.
Sakina found the courage to return to the village when she heard the CLAAS team were investigating the incident. She told CLAAS that Walayat was the only one in his family who believed Muharri Shah was a saint. She said the rest of the family dismissed the notion and that they believed only Jesus Christ was Lord and Saviour of the world.
Local Muslims who are on good terms with the Christians told Mr Francis and Mr Sohail that Walayat and Mushtaq were illiterate and therefore unaware that the Kalma was written on the slips of paper. Some of the Muslims they spoke to said the two men were innocent victims and that they were willing to stand with them.
Police officers told the Muslim community that the two men would be punished for their ‘crime’ but said that other Christians and their property should not be disturbed. Mr Joseph asked the police to protect the Christian community, especially the families of Walayat and Mushtaq. The police warned they would take action against anyone who rose up against Christians in the area.
Mr Francis told the Christians to stay united and strong in their faith during this time of hardship. He also assured them of CLAAS’ support.
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